Vacuum cleaner



Dec 21,1948. c. w. LANTER 2,456,639

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 29, 1946 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 .Jffforzzeg:

c. w. LANTER VACUUM CLEANER Dec. 21, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 Clarence W.

Breuer Electric Mfg. Company,

Lanter, Bartlett, IlL,

corporation of Illinois Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 712,849

' 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaners and is more particularly concerned with improvements in vacuum cleaners of the tank type adapted for industrial use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tank-type vacuum cleaner in which a portable blower and vacuum cleaner unit is demountably positioned on a removable cover provided on the tank.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tank-type vacuum cleaner embodying improved means for detachably mounting a portable blower and vacuum cleaner unit in operative position upon the cover of the tank.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the dirt being collected is first drawn into the interior of the tank in the form of a helical stream to cause the heavier particles of dirt to be directed along the inner wall of the tank and thence downwardly to settle upon the bottom of the tank. Air and relatively light particles of dirt are drawn from adjacent the top center of the tank into the inlet side of the blower for discharge into a dirt collector bag provided on the outlet nozzle of the blower. The heavier particles of dirt are thus collected within the tank of the vacuum cleaner and the lighter particles of dirt are separated from the air stream by means of a dirt collector bag provided at the exit side of the blower.

This invention further contemplates the provision of improved means for detachably connecting and supporting the dirt collector bag upon the outlet nozzle of the blower.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view showing a vacuum cleaner embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary rear elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the manner of demountably supporting the portable blower and vacuum cleaner unit upon the cover of a tank. I

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the vacuum cleaner.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing a motor clamping handle.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

as'signor to Chicago, 111., a

Fig. 8 is a detail front elevational view showing the motor clamping handle.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a detail side elevational view showing a dirt collector bag support.

Fig. 11 is an end view of same.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, the vacuum cleaner is shown as comprising a portable blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 generally indicated at 6 and embodying a blower 1 which is driven by an electric motor 8. When the portable blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 is employed as a vacuum cleaner, air is drawn into the blower 1 through the inlet nozzle 9 and is directed out wardly through the outlet nozzle I I into a suitable dirt collecting bag l2 formed of fabric. the unit 6 is employed as a blower, a suitable nozzle (not shown) is positioned on the outlet nozzle ll of the blower I. When the unit 6 is employed as a portable vacuum cleaner or blower, it is manually supported by means of a suitable handle l3. As the construction and operation of the portable blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 is described in detail in a copending application filed May 2, 1946, Serial No. 666,770 in the name of Grant W. Breuer and assigned to the same assignee, it is believed that a further description of the unit 6 will not be necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

The blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 is adapted to be demountably secured to a cover [4 of a cylindrical tank IS. The cover I4 is provided with an inlet passage I 1 leading from adjacent the top center of the tank Hi to direct a stream of air and dirt into the inlet nozzle 90f the blower 1. The inlet nozzle 9 of the blower l is demountably positioned within a suitable adapter [8 which is secured to the outlet side of the passageway I! by means of suitable screws [9. The adapter I8 is preferably formed of rubber having an inner liner 2| of metal. The unit 6 is adapted to be supported at both ends with an intermediate support of semicircular strip of rubber 22 disposed within a recess 23 formed in the top surface in the cover M.

The portable'blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 is clamped in position upon the cover I4 by means of a clamping sleeve 24 mounted for reciprocable movement upon a stud shaft 26, one end of the stud shaftbeing secured within an aperture 21 of a boss 28 by means of a set screw 29. A rubber disc 3| is molded onto the forward end of the clamping sleeve 24 for engagement When sides of the clamping handle 33 to receive the ends of a cross pin 31 provided on the clamping sleeve 24.

In mounting the blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 upon the cover The clamping handle 33 is then moved from its dotted position illustrated in Fig. 3 to its full line position to act through the cam'slOts 3636 and cross pin 3! to move the clamping sleeve 24 and rubber facing 31 into; clamping engagement against the rounded end of the motor housing 32.

It will thus be seen that the blower and vacuum cleaner unit 6 is secured in position between resilient rubber cushion members [8, 22 and 31 which serve to absorb any vibration of the motor 8 while same is operating. It will also be noted that blower and vacuum cleaner units of difierent sizes may be mounted upon the cover [4 by merely1 replacing the adapter [8 with an adapter of different size or shape.

The cover 54 is provided with an annular downwardly facing groove 4| to receive a rubber ring 42 which is adapted to engage against the upper curled edge 43 of the tank It. The cover is se cured against upward displacement by means of a pair of latches 44-44 which are pivotally mounted at 46-48 to diametrically opposed, downwardlyextending arms 4'l-4'| formed on the coverLM. The latches 44 are normally held in their positions illustrated in Fig. 3 by means of resilient spring members 4848 to dispose thev upper ends of the latches behind the curled upper edges 43 of the tank t6. To remove the cover l4 from the tank IS, the lower ends l-5l of the latch members 44-44 are pressed inwardly to move the latches from their latched positions.

The dirt collector bag I 2 is provided with a neck portion 53 to receive a bag support 54 comprising a tubular portion 56 and an inverted trough-' shapedportion 51. The bag support 54 is inserted into the neck opening 53 of the bag I2, and the neck portion 53 and tubular portion 56 of the support 54 are then secured to the outlet nozzle I of the blower l by means of a locking nut 58. p

In the operation of the vacuum cleaner, a stream of air is drawn inwardly through an intake nozzle Bl leading to the interior of the tank It adjacent the upper end thereof. .The inner 14, the blower nozzle 9 is first inserted into the adapter. I3. with the unit resting upon the semi-circular rubber. sni er;

end of the nozzle 6| is provided with a passage 52 for directing the stream-of air in a circular dire-ction along the inner wall of the tank. As the air stream passes along the inner surface of the tank I B, relatively heavy particles of dirt tend to fall by gravity toward the bottom of the tank. The lower end 63 of the passageway ll is disposed to draw air from adjacent the top center of the tank l6, thence through the blower l and into the dirt collector bag l2. The location of the passage 62 with respect to the passage 63 is important to prevent relatively heavy particles of dirt from being drawn from the tank through the passageway ll. It is contemplated that a suitable flexible suction hose 66 may be detachably secured to the nozzle 6| by means of a locking screw 61.

While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a tank having an air inlet, acover mounted on said tank and formed with; an air passageway leading from the interior of said tank to the upper side of the cover, a

motor-blower unit having an axial inlet and tangential outlet for the passage of air, a reciprocable clamping jaw provided on said cover to securethe motor-blower unit against displacement and withthe axial inlet of the latter in communication {with the air passageway provided in the cover, and cam actuating means to e move said clamping jaw into and out of clamping engagement with said motor-blower unit.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a tank having an air inlet, a cover mounted on said tank and formed with an air passageway leading from the interior of 'said tank to th'eupper side of the cover, a motor-blower unithaving an axial inlet and tangential outlet for the passage of air, a reciprocableclamping jaw ,provided on said cover to secure the motor-blower unit against displace-- ment and with the. axial inlet of the latter in communication with the air passageway provided in the cover, cam actuating means to move 'said clamping jaw into and out of clamping engagement with said motor-blower unit,.said clamping jaw being formed of resilient material.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a tank having an air inlet, a, cover mounted onsaidtank and formed with an air passageway leading from the interior of said tank to the upper side of the cover, a motor-blower unit having an axial inlet and tangential outlet for thepassage of air, a reciprocalole clamping jaw provided on said cover to secure the motor-blower unit against displacement and-with-the axial inlet of the latter in communica on with the air passageway provided in the cover, cam actuating means to move said clampingjja-w into; and out of clamping-engagement With said motor-blower unit, said clamping jaw being formed ofresilient material, and an adapter formed of resilient material mounted in the 4. In a vacuum cleaner, a tank having an. air

inlet, aic'over mounted on said tank and formed with an air passageway leading from the interior of said tank-to the upper side of the cover, a motor-blowerunit'having an axial inlet and tangential outlet for the'passage of air, a reciprocableclamping jaw provided on said cover to secure the motor-blower unit against displacement and with the axial inlet of the latter in communication with the air passage-way provided in the cover, a dirt bag, and a trough-shaped nozzle secured to the tangential outlet of said motorblower unit to support said dirt bag.

5.; In a vacuum cleaner, a'cylindricaltank havingan air inlet, a cover detachably mounted on said tankand formedwith an air passageway leading from adjacentthe top center of the tank to the upper side of the cover, a motor-blower unit having an axial inlet and tangential outlet for the passage of air, a stud shaft provided on from the cover when the axial inlet of the motore v blower unit is in communication with the air passageway provided in the cover.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical tank having an air inlet, a cover detachably mounted on said tank and formed with an air passageway leading from adjacent the top center of the tank to the upper side of the cover, a motorblower unit having an axial inlet and tangential outlet for the passage of air, a stud shaft provided on said cover, a clamping jaw mounted for reciprocable movement along said stud shaft to secure the motor-blower unit against displacement from the cover when the axial inlet of the motor-blower unit is in communication with the air passageway provided in the :cover, and an air nozzle mounted Within the air inlet of said tank to direct a stream of air along the inner wall of the tank.

'7. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical tank having an air inlet, a cover detachably mounted on said tank and formed with an air passageway leading from adjacent the top center of the tank to the upper side of the cover, a motor-blower unit having an axial inlet and tangential outlet for the passage of air, a stud shaft provided on said cover, a clamping jaw mounted for reciprocable movement along said stud shaft to secure the motor-blower unit against displacement from the cover when the axial inlet of the motorblower unit is in communication with the air passageway provided in the cover, an air nozzle mounted within the air inlet of said tank to direct a stream of air along the inner Wall of the tank, and a pair of latches pivotally mounted on diametrically opposed sides of said cover for engagement with said tank.

CLARENCE W. LANTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,792,975 Gilbert Feb. 17, 1931 1,868,519 Bruer Jul. 26, 1932 1,907,335 Riebel, Jr May 2, 1933 2,056,831 Daniels, et a1. Oct. 6, 1936 2,114,780 Juelson Apr. 19, 1938 2,296,359 Martinet Sep. 22, 1942 2,327,181 Dunbar Aug. 17, 1943 2,390,101 Jason -n Dec. 4, 1945 

